Abstract
Foot rot is the most important disease in citrus in Spain. Phytophthora nicotianae var. parasitica is the major cause of this disease. Field treatments with classic contact fungicides have been extensively used for many years to combat stem and trunk Phytophthora diseases in citrus, while, more recently, foliar application of the systemic fungicide fosetyl‐A1 has been used with great success. It is now also possible to use a biological control method for foot rot disease. Myrothecium roridum, a cosmopolitan soil hyphomycete with high cellulolytic activity, produces toxins which are very active against Phytophthora fungi. Culture filtrates of M. roridum cultured in liquid medium with low sugar content strongly inhibit in vitro development of P.n. parasitica, P. syringae and P. capsici. In glasshouse trials employingcross inoculations of M. roridum and P.n. parasitica in stems of sweet orange and willowleaf mandarin seedlings, the bark lesions produced by Phytophthora were clearly stopped at 7 or 10 days after inoculation and the cankers subsequently did not show evident activity. In field trials, M. roridum inoculated into the roots of several citrus species limited development of cankers due to P.n. parasitica (artificial or natural infection). The good results open a new way for control of Phytophthora diseases in citrus.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
